Or so I thought until I changed my own mind last week.
I have needed to get some new photographs for a while, to represent myself and optimallyou as we have evolved over the last few years. I never seemed to have quite the right photo to use within my bio's or within my blog, and I needed some new shots for the new optimallyou website. I knew that I needed to arrange a photoshoot in a studio to get the professional shots, and I think I was putting it off because I was nervous about doing something that I hadn't done before, and because I thought I would feel awkward, and the photos would turn out badly.
How's that for a positive mental attitude!
I chatted with a few people and mentioned that I was nervous to do the shoot, and people didn't really understand why. I am so happy standing up and speaking at an event in front of hundreds of people, so what is it about being in front of a camera that brings up this fear? I guess it was potentially the chance of the photographs turning out badly, and the chance of me feeling stupid and uncomfortable, awkward in my own body. It was about how I felt, and what I thought, rather than what was actually happening. Before I had even reached the day of the photo shoot I was expecting for it to be a painful experience, and that just didn't make much sense.
Why was I worrying about something that hadn't happened yet?
What could I possibly do other than do my best, and enjoy it?
Thats exactly what I decided to do. I decided to enjoy the process of the shoot, the choosing outfits with the girls the week before, getting my hair done as a tester to see how it would look, and on the day, showing up and having fun with four of my super talented best friends.
In Positive Psychology we talk about having one of two mindsets - fixed or growth. A fixed mindset is focused on the outcome, avoids challenges, and gives up easily, and this was the mindset that I had been stuck in! A growth mindset embraces challenge, and looks for the lessons within difficult situations, choosing to persevere, and focus on and enjoy the journey along the way. This was my new chosen mindset, and the one that meant that the shoot was a completely fab experience that we all really enjoyed.
I had arranged the shoot to take place with my friends Hannah McGuire on styling, Charlotte Condliffe make up, Jade Watson for hair, and Charlotte Swann for the photographs, and had booked the studio for Saturday. I made sure that I fitted in my morning run so that I felt energised and alive, and then started to get everything sorted ready for the shoot - this meant driving to the gym first with wet hair in a towel turban, grabbing an exercise ball, and wedging it into the passenger seat of my car, and then heading to Jades house to get my hair set into rollers, followed by pick ups, packing, and a team Starbucks run - all with rollers in my hair and wearing prescription raybans because I had left my glasses at home! What a sight!
We arrived at the studio and unpacked all of the clothes and Charlotte got to work on my make up - this being the first time I had had professional make up done before. Charlotte is fab and has worked for brands such as The Times newspaper, Fred Perry, and The Daily Mail, and being my friend I trusted her completely. The same goes for Jade and Hannah with my hair and styling - it was so good to be around friends and feel like a girl!
I had decided to show up, work it, love it, and do my best.
Sometimes showing up in life is the hardest part, and it isn't actually so bad when you get there.
Charlotte was amazing with the camera and has shot for huge sportswear brands in the past, as well as shooting over 50 weddings, as well as studio work - so she knows what she is doing. It really helped that she was bossing me about - though she swears that she wasn't half as bossy as normal on a shoot!
We got the shots and the pictures are looking fab! I can't wait to see them up on the site when it goes live in a few weeks time. In the meantime, keep an eye on the optimallyou instagram, twitter, and Facebook pages, and look out for the new Flourish vlog out tomorrow on our youtube channel.
Thank you to the girls for supporting my vision, and for showing up to make it happen. Love you all.
With Gratitude,
Niyc xx
Facebook Optimal You
Twitter @optimallyou
Instagram @optimallyou
YouTube @optimallyou
Spotify optimallyou
www.optimallyou.com (Our new site, launching soon)
www.optimalyou.co.uk (Current site & online store)
Charlotte Swann Photography on Instagram @charlotteswannphotography
Hannah McGuire styling on Instagram @hmpersonalstyling
Charlotte Condliffe Make up on Facebook "CJC Make up Artist" and Instagram @charlottecond
Jade Watson Hair on Instagram @jadeywig
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